The only long-term source of information on the population status of Long-billed Curlew in Canada is the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which samples a large part of the Canadian range and has high precision in its estimates for this species. However, the BBS is poorly timed for detecting Long-billed Curlew, which is often rather quiet and well-concealed by vegetation by the time the surveys take place in June or early July, and this reduces reliability of the survey to medium. BBS data indicate an increase from the 1970s to the late 1980s, but then a relatively steep decline beginning around 2005 and still ongoing. The population is currently 28% lower than in the early 1970s. At a regional level, declines have occurred within the Prairies and southcentral British Columbia, while there have been increases in central and southeastern British Columbia.

The goal for Long-billed Curlew is to increase the population to the level it was at in the early 1970s, based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Trend data show that Long-billed Curlew is currently below its goal range and continuing to decline. Despite this, analysis of recent trends and potential growth rates suggests that Long-billed Curlew could reach its population goal by 2050, but only if timely conservation action is taken. This goal is more specific than the objective of maintaining or increasing the breeding distribution of Long-billed Curlew relative to 2004, as outlined in the Management Plan for the species under the Species at Risk Act (Environment Canada, 2013).